Is it taboo to say you cannot beat another guy?

[elwani]

And has any fighter ever just plain admitted they don't think they can win in a matchup?

 

[mb23100]

Mir said he didn't think he could beat Nogueira after their first fight.

 

[Sakurabaism]

Not a taboo but if you're a competitor you should never entertain the idea that your opponent is better, let alone speak about it in public. Not a good mindset to have.

 

[Pierced7681]

Ken Shamrock was asked if he wanted a fourth fight with Tito and he got really mad at the reporter and said something like “he beat me three times what do you think”

 

[CallMeCasual]

Darren Till wasn't too interested in fighting Yoel Romero.

 

[Egészségére!]

Khabib came close

You called out GSP. Will you move up to 170?

“No, please, not at 170. With George St. Pierre...no”

 

[quadrunner]

Darren Till wasn't too interested in fighting Yoel Romero.

I like how he handled those questions, you can tell he was 100% honest in every reply

 

[Gio]

Frank Mir admitted in the post fight interview with Rogan when he beat Big Bog for the first time for the interim belt that he didn't even think he can beat Big Nog while nearly crying in tears.

 

[notafighter86]

If you dont believe you have a way to win, why would you take the fight?

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

It would be great if a fighter just acted beta like he had no shot at all the pressers / interviews and then dominated the fight

 

[humdizzle]

Ok to admit it will be a tough fight. Not ok to say yeah I got no chance.

 

[Greyscale]

I think Anderson Silva admitted he can't beat Jones

 

[HHJ]

Chuck's head trainer said they avoided a fight w machida "It's all wrong for us,that match"

 

[RetiredSlave]

Look up fighters opinions of Fedor back in the day.

 

[EnthusiastCultivator]

Dustin admitted being can’t beat Khabib. A guy on Instagram asked him : What would you do differently in a rematch with Khabib?

Dustin responded: “I’ll bring a gun.”

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Obviously they can't say it before a fight. I think in some cases it's obvious from watching the fight, the most glaring example I can think of being Bader against Rumble.

 

[sabretitan]

DC about cain

 

[Dragon Punch]

"I think I can beat Rashad, but I really don't know how." - Chael.

 

[McSpikes]

Forrest Griffin always had that self depreciation thing going on. I remember when he was asked about rumors of him fight JBJ he said sonething like "I better not be fight Jon Jones! I'll get killed worse than the Silva fight"

 

[youllneverwalkalone]

They would almost never put it into actual words but when they duck an opponent you know that's what they are thinking.